Sep 9, 2012

津和野散策・太鼓谷稲荷神社  Walking in Tsuwano and Taikodani Inari Jinja

津和野へ向かう途中、素敵な景色に車を止めました。

We drove from Nichihara to Tsuwano.
On the way, we found a lovely place and stopped our car.

緑の山、山裾の赤い屋根の集落、緑の田んぼ、きれいな川。
昔話のようです!

Red-roofed houses at the foot of the mountain, green rice field, and natural meadow ......looked like a scene from old stories!

間もなく津和野に到着です。山陰の京都と呼ばれる津和野は殿町というメインストリート沿いに古い街並みが続いています。

Soon, we were at Tsuwano.  Known as a little Kyoto in San-in, it has many old buildings along its main street, Tonomachi. 


この門は大岡家老門。

This was the gate to the chief Samurai O-oka's residence. 


入ってみるとなんと役場でした。

But inside it was their local government office.

殿町沿いの掘割には錦鯉が悠々と泳いでいました。
餌をたくさんもらっているんでしょう、みんな丸々していましたよ。

In the channel along Tonomachi street, colorful koi fish were swimming.   
Tourists were feeding them well, and the fish were very fat.

  

素敵なお店もたくさんあって買い物も楽しめました。

There were many nice shops along the street and I enjoyed a little shopping there.


これは300年以上の歴史を持つ分銅屋さん。
江戸時代には和ろうそくや、びんづけ油を商っていたそうです。

This is a shop with a long history of  300 years. 
In old days, "Bundo-ya" used to deal in candles and fragrant hair oil.


今はお香、和ろうそく、和紙を置いています。

Now they have Japanese incense, candles, and  paper.

素敵でしょ。nice warm atmosphere
お店の人がとても親切で、楽しくお話ができました。
ここでは来年のお年玉用にポチ袋と懐紙を購入。

A lady at the store was very kind and we enjoyed a little chat with her.
I bought these Pochi bukuro and Kaishi.
Pochi bukuro is a small envelope you put otoshidama (New Year's gift money).
Kaishi is the paper used at tea ceremonies.  But it can be used in many other ways, too.  I'm going to keep it in my bag and use it as a paper napkin, a memo pad, etc.  I might also make  Pochi bukuro by folding it.

他にもお酒、マグカップを購入。
楽しかったです。

We also bought a bottle of Sake and a pair of mugs.
It was fun!

その後、太鼓谷稲成神社へ。
太鼓谷稲成神社は日本五大稲荷のひとつ。

1773年津和野藩主亀井矩貞(のりさだ)が京都伏見稲荷神社の神様をお祭りして建てたそうです。
日本で唯一「稲成」と表記され願望成就の願いが込められているとか。

Then we headed for Taikodani Inari Jinja.
It is one of the five biggest Inari Shrine in Japan.

The feudal lord Kamei Norisada built this shrine in 1773, enshrining a share of the spirit from Fushimi Inari Jinja in Kyoto.
This is the only Inari that writes 「稲成」 instead of 「稲荷」, and it's because they wish for 願望就 (wish fulfillment.)




伏見稲荷と同じように赤い鳥居のトンネルを抜けていきます。

Like Fushimi Inari Jinja, you go through a lot of red torii.


でも上るのはそんなに大変ではありませんでした。

But it wasn't that hard.
Soon we reached the top.

緑と赤がとてもきれい。

I liked this red and green contrast.


これが本殿。

This is the main shrine.
It has a big Shimenawa (sacred straw festoon)
本殿を守るきつねたち。

These foxes were guarding the main shrine.


小さい社殿があってかわいい狐がたくさん祭られていました。

This little shrine was packed with many fox statues.

ここからは津和野の町がよく見えました。
散策にもってこいのかわいらしい町でした。

From there, I enjoyed the view of the Tsuwano Town.
It was quite lovely.




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4 comments:

Rurousha said...

Kitsune!

(^0^)

Thank you!

It's one of the five biggest Inari shrines? What are the other biggies? Fushimi, Takekoma, Kasama, Yūtoku? I don't know whether Toyokawa should be included, because it's Inari worship, but it's a temple, not a shrine.

I need a sensei's input!

PS: Wow. Massive shimenawa!

Merry Witch said...

I was hoping I could take a lot more kitsune pictures, but it seemed they were under some reconstruction and I didn't see many.(-_-;)

You are right about the five biggest Inari shrines. They are Fusjimi, Takekoma, Kasama, Yutoku and Taikodani. But the other shrines claim differently.

1)Hanazura, Fushimi,Toyokawa, Kasama, Yutoku
2)Takahashi, Fushimi, Yutoku, Toyokawa, Mogami

So, I don't know. Taikodani didn't seem that big. Without a doubt Fushimi is the best.

Rurousha said...

Thanks for confirming the five biggies! ^^

I've read that Ōji Inari Jinja is the most important Inari shrine in Kanto, but I was very disappointed when I visited it.

I want to return to Fushimi (for the fourth time!) and I'm really curious about Toyokawa. One day ...

PS: No worries. You had enough foxes to make this fox fan very happy. :)

Merry Witch said...

I liked Oji Inari. But it was the weekend I visited there. I could climb up the steps and it was deserted. I was alone, It was quiet. I find these things matter very much.

At Taikodani, I think I didn't have much such luck.

Fushimi for the fourth time? I lost my very best handkerchief there. I think fox liked it and took it. If you go, please tell them to return it to Merry Witch, will you?